a lively and lasting sense of filial duty is more effectually impressed on the mind of a son or daughter by reading King Lear, than by all the dry volumes of ethics and divinity that ever were written.

America was conquered, and her settlements made and firmly established, at the expence of individuals, and not of the British public. their own blood was spilt in acquiring lands for their settlement, their own fortunes expended in making that settlement effectual. for themselves they fought, for...

this, Sire, is our last, our determined resolution ... to procure redress of these our great grievances, to quiet the minds of your subjects in British America against any apprehensions of future incroachment, to establish fraternal love and harmony thro’ the whole empire

Thos Jefferson 157 acres Form pages George the third &c To all &c Know ye that for divers good Causes and Considerations but more especially for and in Consideration of the Sum of Twenty Shillings of good and lawful Money for our use paid to our Receiver General of our Revenues in this...

I am sincerely one of those, & would rather be in dependance on Gr. Br. properly limited than on any nation upon earth, or than on no nation. but I am one of those too who rather than submit to the right of legislating for us assumed by the British parl. & which late experience has shewn...

From Jefferson’s Second Draft No person hereafter coming into this country shall be held in slavery under any pretext whatever. From Jefferson’s Third Draft No person hereafter coming into this country shall be held within the same in slavery under any pretext whatever.

From Jefferson’s First Draft no freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms. From Jefferson’s Second Draft No freeman shall be debarred the use of arms [within his own lands or tenements]. From Jefferson’s Third Draft No freeman shall be debarred the use of arms [within his own lands or...

Congress proceeded the same day to consider the declaration of Independance which had been reported & laid on the table the Friday preceding and on Monday referred to a commee of the whole. the pusillanimous idea that we had friends in England worth keeping terms with, still haunted the minds...

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for a people to advance from that subordination in which they have hitherto remained, & to assume among the powers of the earth the equal & independant station. ... We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable; that all men are...